NBA

Nothing set, but ‘Melo willing to meet with Nets, Knicks

LOS ANGELES — Carmelo Anthony would trade just about anything for some sleep.

The Nuggets All-Star forward — reportedly headed for the Nets as soon as he says so — admitted Friday all of the speculation about his future has taken its toll.

“I wish I could get this over with right now,” Anthony said at an NBA All-Star weekend event. “I wish there was (a legitimate offer) on the table, that the Nuggets can say, ‘OK let’s get it done.’ …

“I do need my rest, I need some sleep. I don’t need that much stress on me. …

“I haven’t gotten (any) sleep in a week.”

It could be over soon. The Nets and Nuggets reportedly have a deal in place that only requires Anthony to agree on signing a contract extension with New Jersey.

Anthony said he is willing to meet with Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov, and Knicks owner James Dolan this weekend here.

Earlier Friday, speaking at an NBA Cares community service event, Anthony said a reported meeting that Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov was seeking with the All-Star forward was “news to me.”

“I haven’t heard it,” Anthony said.

He later said he had been unable to check his voicemail or text messages.

Prokhorov told Nets executives last month to end drawn-out trade talks for Anthony, a day before the men were scheduled to meet.

“I want to look in Dolan’s eyes and see if he’s interested in my coming to New York or see if Mr. Prokhorov is into me coming to Jersey,” Anthony said Friday.

The Nuggets have looked into trading Anthony since he declined to sign a three-year contract extension worth nearly $65 million this season. The Nets have been close to a deal twice, and the Knicks are considered the other favorite to land Anthony if Denver decides to move him by Thursday afternoon’s deadline.

Of the Knicks, Anthony on Friday said, “You know, as far as building, which the Nuggets are trying to obviously do, and in the future start all over and build up — and don’t try to flip it on me — but New York already has something there with Amar’e (Stoudemire).

“That city is looking forward to bringing back great basketball, and they looking forward to that. If that’s my destination, that’s something I can bring to the city.”

Prokhorov’s spokeswoman said nothing has changed for the Nets with the Feb. 24 deadline, despite multiple reports of a possible meeting and/or deal.

Prokhorov cited the high price the Nuggets were seeking and his frustration with the public nature of the talks when he halted them Jan. 19, not because of reports that Anthony only would agree to a long-term extension with the Knicks if he were dealt.

“I’m surprised at how strong [the Nets] came back, but that don’t happen overnight,” Anthony said of the rekindled trade talks. “That’s been a continuous conversation that’s been going on between both organizations.

“That doesn’t happen overnight, a guy of Prokhorov’s caliber just flies into the States and has a big press conference then comes back and the deal is right on the table.

“I know he’s powerful, but that’s something that doesn’t happen.”

Anthony said his future was not limited to the Nets or Knicks.

“Just because is said I love the city of New York doesn’t mean Knicks and Nets are the only two teams there,” he said. “Where I can say … I want to be on those teams and nobody else.

“If it’s a deal with somebody else we all have to sit down. But time is tickin’ man, and time is money.”

Interview transcript via NJ.com